Biomass Week - June 24, 2016

2016 National Advanced Biofuels Conference wraps in Milwaukee The 2016 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this week, hosting a number of panels surrounding the advanced biofuels and biobased chemical industries. READ MORE SHARE
Conventional, advanced biofuel leaders gather in Milwaukee The National Biodiesel Board's Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel participated in a panel with other biofuel industry leaders at the 32nd Annual International FEW and colocated National Advanced Biofuels Conference in Milwaukee June 21. READ MORE SHARE
	UK votes to leave the EU, Prime Minister Cameron to resign The U.K. has voted to leave the European Union and Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his intention to resign. The referendum, known as the Brexit, was held June 23, with 51.9 percent voting to leave the EU and 48.1 percent voting to stay. READ MORE SHARE
Proposed bill expands tax credit to biogas-based RNG A bill recently introduced to the House Ways and Means Committee on Space, Science and Technology would add more biogas applications to the list of technologies that qualify for the federal Section 45 investment tax credit. READ MORE SHARE
Maine opens RFP for biomass energy On June 17, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the sale of energy from biomass sources. The RFP relates to a law enacted earlier this year to boost Maine’s biomass industry. READ MORE SHARE
House hearing focuses on RFS implementation On June 22, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The event featured testimony from government officials, biofuel supporters and other stakeholders. READ MORE SHARE
NRDC releases 2016 Aviation Biofuel Scorecard The National Resources Defense Council has released its 2016 Aviation Biofuel Scorecard, which rates airlines on the sourcing and use of biofuels. The scorecard is now in its third year. READ MORE SHARE
BIO: RFS rule continues to chill advanced biofuel investment The Biotechnology Innovation Organization has released an analysis that finds the U.S. EPA’s new methodology for setting annual renewable fuel standard (RFS) volumes is continuing to chill investment in advanced biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Senators issue letter in support of strong RFS A group of 39 senators have issued a letter to the U.S. EPA advocating for a strong renewable fuel standard that will support U.S. jobs and the economy, reduce the environmental impact of the transportation and decrease dependence on foreign oil. READ MORE SHARE
Military spending bill includes anti-biofuel provision On June 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5293, titled “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017” by a vote of 282 to 138. The bill includes a provision exempting the military from biofuels use. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: 1.62 billion RINs generated in May The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) data for May, reporting nearly 1.62 billion RINs were generated during the month, bringing the net total for the first five months of the year to 6.76 billion. READ MORE SHARE
ElectraTherm generates biomass power in the UK ElectraTherm has commissioned two Power+ Generators in the U.K utilizing biomass to generate emission-free electricity. Both sites use a combination of biomass and combined-heat-and-power to generate clean energy and increase onsite efficiency. READ MORE SHARE
UK GIB: Northern Irish AD plants secure investment The Foresight Group LLP managed Recycling and Waste LP Fund, in which U.K. Green Investment Bank plc is a cornerstone investor, has committed GBP 10.5 million ($15.4 million) to two anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in Northern Ireland. READ MORE SHARE
Cleanaway powering homes with energy from landfill gas Australia-based Cleanaway has turned landfill gas into enough renewable energy to power over 16,000 homes for a year. Last year Cleanaway collected 113 million kWh of energy from landfill gas. READ MORE SHARE
Greenyug to colocate biobased chemical plant at ADM facility Greenyug LLC recently announced that it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. READ MORE SHARE
BIC and Vanguard Initiative sign bioeconomy MOU Two leading European bioeconomy players, the Bio-based Industries Consortium and the Vanguard Initiative have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for better interregional cooperation on the bioeconomy. READ MORE SHARE
Poet expands cover crop research in Iowa Poet LLC is expanding its cover crop research as part of soil sustainability work in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The work is part of an ongoing commitment to helping farmers make sound management decisions around harvesting crop residue for cellulosic ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
Smith Flooring qualifies into PFI Standards Program The Pellet Fuels Institute recently announced the qualification of pellet fuel manufacturer Smith Flooring of Mountain View, Missouri, into the Pellet Fuels Institute Standards Program. READ MORE SHARE
GE: Italy’s AB orders 115 Jenbacher engines for biogas projects GE’s Distributed Power business recently announced that AB, a globally leading combined-heat-and-power and biogas project developer based in Italy, has purchased 115 of GE’s high-efficiency Jenbacher Type 3 and Type 4 biogas engines. READ MORE SHARE
Tire plant in Finland installs biomass power plant Nokian Tyres recently joined a joint venture to building the Nokianvirran Energia biomass power plant, which will supply energy to its factory in Nokia, Finland. The facility was commissioned June 16. READ MORE SHARE
Research examines obstacles to making biofuel from perennials A University of Arkansas chemistry professor has received a $400,000 award from the National Science Foundation to investigate a roadblock in the harvesting of biomass from perennial plants for the purpose of creating a source of renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE